The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-23


they couldn't get along with.
Not a True Remedy for Social Ills.
1t is difficult in all countries to distinguish
the dividing line that should separate politi-
cal from social questions. This ought not to
be, and 1t would not be were all governments
republican both In form and in fact: but from
the various contradictory systems that obtain
throughout the world, there has sprung a
chaotic condition Of the public mind and a
consequent looseness In defining legislative
powers. Over half the world the mainte-
nance OF government not 80 much for tho de-
fence OF public order as for the emolument
Of the governing classes, Is the paramount
object; and 80 long as this remains true we
may expect to see its Offices magnihed, even
In communities that have theoretically cur.
tailed the powers of government.
We ought to be very clear upon tho proper
limitations for political or Legislative action
In the United States, and heretofore our
views on the subject were thought to be
pretty well defined. There has been differ
ence in the conception Of Federal authority.
and this difference has furnished the founda-
ton for the organization Of political parties;
but the distinction dwindled to mere shade
where questions Of State policy only were
involved. Both parties have exercised about
the Same powers in the State Legislatures,
and held themselves to corresponding nmi-
tations. It would be hard to point to any
instance Of legislative or executive action in
one State taken by the representatives of
either party that could not be paralleled in
some other State by the representatives of
the opposing party.
But it Is becoming question whether our
constitutional views are as well digested as
we have been led to suppose. There is too
much reason to suspect that We have been
operating machine fashioned to our hand
without anything approaching universal
knowledge Of the scientific principles in
volved In It's construction. We will say
nothing here Of the intermeddling and
worthless commission laws for which both
parties are equally responsible, but re-
fer only to prevailing manifestations.
Everywhere, at all points OF the COM
pass, may be seen cropping up an in
calculable number Of men who seem to
think that our entire theory of society Is
wrong; that the founders OF our institutions
"
greater liberty when they saw fit to part
company with Great Britain, but that tho
old crown, having failed to govern satisfa6-
torily, should have been replaced by q new
crown capable Of holding such an aocumula-
ton OF new powers that its authority could
no longer be safely open to question. These
are not exclusively the views Of men sup
posed to be illiterate and uninstructed.
They are shared by authors and journalists
OF distinction, by clergymen, lawyers, bank
ers, and philosophical theorists.
The difficulty seems to spring from the
impossibuity OF getting men out OF the
shadow of old traditions. Government has
been the only form of social organization in
the past that proved very effective, and to
many men 1t Is the only form OF organiza-
ton that can be conceived. It seems pre-
posterous to some persons to say that there
shall be any organization whatever unless it
be directed and controlled by an overshadow-
ing central authority able to make or un-
make according to its pleasure, and
exercising its functions under the plea of
either divine right or popular right. But
divine right and popular right are two forms
OF expression which correspond with each
other in very startling degree when placed
in opposition to individual, personal, or local
right. II our social order means anything, 1t
means the acknowledgment OF the indiyid-
ual and his right to the control OF any legiti-
mate force that he may choose to put in OPP
Grafton in his own behalf. 1t may be that
the trainers Of our Constitution did not suf-
flciently emphasize their purpose; but they
never expected to have to do the thinking for
all posterity. Their meaning was clear
enough. The position of a communal slave
would be even more intolerable than the
position OF the slave to a personal ruler.
The master OF the former would be moro
watchful, more tyrannical, and more FREQ
from sense Of personal responsibility than
the master Of the latter. A nominally repub-
lican government exercising despotic powers
would be incomparably worse while it lasted
than personal despotism. But 1t would not
last very long; for no one would wish to see
1t last, and 1t would have no defenders.
There Is no remedy for social ills In politics
If some people are poor and dependent, and
II there is want and suffering In the world
which might be averted, 1t Is financial
problem and the resources OF finance are
sufficient for its solution. Men cannot stand
oiohe' ~ 10 uuo anu eApocl W escdpo tho
consequences of their selhshness But
neither can they be mustered under the con-
troll OF bosses placed too far above them to be
held responsible. and find their circum-
stances made anything but worse
Certainly, II they are poor because they are
oppressed, they will not escape from their
poverty Embarrassing and strengthening tho
agencies of oppression. But their poverty Ia
not due to oppression. Men are born into
tho world without clothes. and though few